Grape plant named ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’

ABSTRACT

A new distinct variety of grapevine named ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’ abundantly forms attractive large berries having deep blue/black skin coloration in medium clusters. The fruit displays a naturally sweet flavor and is juicy and meaty in texture. The fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during July in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A, and displays good eating qualities as a table grape. The fruit firmness renders the fruit well amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Vitis viniferaGrapevine.

Variety denomination: The new Grapevine has the varietal denomination‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during the late 90's near Bakersfieldin San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In 2004, during thisbreeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created bydeliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of thepollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from anothermale origin. The female parent of the new variety was the GRZ 4 which isa large meaty black and fertile seedless grape variety (non-patented inthe United States). The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the newvariety was GAW 6 which is a large black fleshy, grape variety with avery small seed trace and medium to high fertility (non-patented in theUnited States).

Comparison of ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’ with its parents:

TABLE 1 Autumn Royal GRZ 4 GAW 6 (Comparison ARRAEIGHTEEN (Mother)(Father) Variety) Seed trace Small Small Small Prominent seed traceBerry shape Broad ellipsoid Round Round Ovoid Bunches 32 36 32-36 30-35per vine Berry Color Blue black Black Black Dark purple

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:GRZ 4×GAW 6

An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryowhich possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting fromthe above pollination were embryo rescued.

In 2005 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valleyof Central California.

It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possessesthe following combination of the characteristics:

-   -   (a) Forms attractive large berries having a small and soft seed        trace and with a blue-black skin coloration in medium clusters        which display a natural flavor,    -   (b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of July in the San        Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A., and    -   (c) Bears fruit that is firm and is well amenable for storage,        handling, and shipping.

The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visibledisease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought,heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of thenew variety has been found to display excellent handling and shippingqualities combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergoasexual propagation beginning in 2007 near Bakersfield in the SanJoaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A. by grafting on matureThompson rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexualpropagation has been conducted thereafter in successive years through2008, and has shown that the characteristics of the new variety arestrictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, thenew variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true to type manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ARRATWENTYSEVEN is a medium size, blue/black table grapewith a small seed trace and with a very high production, e.g., about 42bunches per vine, and an average of about one to two bunches per shoot.

Asexual reproduction by micro propagation of the new variety asperformed near Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., shows that the forgoing andother distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens ofvegetative growth of six year old specimens of the new variety, in coloras nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character. Colors in the photograph may differ fromthe color values cited in the detailed botanical description below,which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 shows leaves, stems and grapes of ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The R.H.S. ColourChart of The ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 1995 edition. The descriptionis based on the observation of plants growing on ‘Thompson Seedless’rootstock outdoors near San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A.

-   Vine:    -   -   Vigor.—Vigorous upright shoots.        -   Productive capacity.—Bearing at a natural, average capacity.            Spur pruning.        -   Trunk.—Strong and developed. Ranges from 2″-2⅜″. Rough with            a fibrous, shaggy exterior. Light maple brown coloring.-   Time of bud burst: Early. Date of bud burst in specified location of    culture is Feb. 26, 2013 in Bakersfield, Calif.-   Young shoot:    -   -   Openness of tip.—Half open.        -   Prostrate hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of prostate hairs on tip.—Absent or            very weak.        -   Erect hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.-   Young leaf:    -   -   Color of upper side of blade.—Green (137-C)).        -   Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of            blade.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or            very sparse.-   Shoot:    -   -   Attitude (before tying).—Semi-erect.        -   Color of dorsal side of internodes.—Yellow-green (144-B).        -   Color of ventral side of internodes.—Yellow-green (144-C).        -   Color of dorsal side of nodes.—Yellow-green (144-A).        -   Color of ventral side of nodes.—Yellow-green (144-D).        -   Erect hairs on internode.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Number of tendrils.—6 at bloom.        -   Length of tendrils.—Long (7.5 inches).        -   Color of tendrils.—Yellow-green (144-D).-   Flower:    -   -   Sexual organs.—fully developed stamens and fully developed            gynoecium.-   Mature leaf:    -   -   Size of blade.—7.5×6 inches.        -   Shape of blade.—Wedge shaped.        -   Blistering of upper side of blade.—Strong.        -   Number of lobes.—Five.        -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Deep.        -   Arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses (only            varieties with lobed leaves).—Strongly overlapped.        -   Arrangement of lobes petiole sinus.—Half open.        -   Length of teeth.—Short.        -   Ratio length/width of teeth.—Small.        -   Shape of teeth.—Both sides convex.        -   Proportion of main veins on upper side of blade with            anthocyanin coloration.—High.        -   Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of            blade.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or            very sparse.        -   Length of petiole compared to length of middle vein.—Much            longer.        -   Top side color.—Green (137-C).        -   Bottom side color.—Yellow Green (146-C).        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Vein color.—Yellow Green (144-D).        -   Petiole length.—9″.        -   Petiole color.—Yellow Green (144-D).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Color.—Green (137-C).        -   Size.—0.003136″.-   Time of beginning of ripening: Early; Jul. 7, 2013 in Bakersfield,    Calif.-   Bunch:    -   -   Size (penduncle excluded).—Medium.        -   Density.—Lax.        -   Length of penduncle primary bunch.—Medium.        -   Average bunch weight.—1.5 lbs.-   Berry:    -   -   Size.—Large.        -   Length.—1″.        -   Shape.—Broad ellipsoid.        -   Diameter.— 13/16″.        -   Weight.—0.28 oz.        -   Color of skin (without bloom).—Blue black 202-A.        -   Ease of detachment from pedicle.—Moderately easy.        -   Thickness of skin.—Thin.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of flesh.—Weak.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Soft or slightly firm.        -   Particular flavor.—None.        -   Formation of seeds.—Rudimentary.        -   Market use of observed plant.—Fresh market.        -   Berries per bunch.—85-110 berries.-   Woody shoot:    -   -   Main color.—Orange brown (grayed orange 177-C).-   Age and growing conditions: Six years growing under Y system in    South Joaquin Valley (hot, dry summers).-   Shipping characteristics: (E.g. number of days fruit has been stored    under specific conditions):

Fruit was in cold storage. Stored in poly bags inside Styrofoam boxeswith sulphur pads.

-   -   -   After 60 days.—Rachises were 65% green; 2% berry shuttering;            no berry wrinkling or cracks were apparent.

DNA PROFILE

To further the characterize the new Arra variety DNA was extracted fromdried leaf samples and DNA profiles were obtained at California Seed &Plant Lab, California USA using base pairs for 10 standardmicrosatellite DNA markers. The data is presented hereafter.

Microsatellite DNA Marker Allele Sizes in Base Pairs M1 234 240 M2 249249 M3 181 194 M4 210 212 M5 273 273 M6 145 151 M7 187 201 M8 247 257 M9194 212  M10 239 247

The ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine,botanically known as Vitis vinifera, identified as ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’,substantially as shown and described herein.